The World’s Largest Sailing Yacht Ushers in a New Era for Orient Express
The 54-suite vessel launches in Saint-Nazaire with maiden voyage from Marseille in June, competing against Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons yacht collections.
External Articles
Why capsule hotels are taking global cities by storm
The 1,000-room Zedwell in London's Piccadilly Circus represents the world's largest capsule hotel, with rates starting at £30 per night in windowless pods.
Jardine Matheson to take Mandarin Oriental private at $4.2 billion value
Hong Kong-based conglomerate Jardine Matheson (JARD.SI) said on Friday its unit would buy the rest of the shares of Mandarin Oriental (MOIL.SI) it does not already own, valuing the hotel investment and management firm at $4.2 billion.
How a simple question about American hotels led to ‘the greatest immigration story never told’
The Patel Motel Story is a new short documentary co-directed and narrated by Amar Shah, exploring the extraordinary rise of Indian American motel owners in the United States. Premiering at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, the film traces how Indian immigrants—many from Gujarat and sharing the surname Patel—came to own more than 60% of the country’s hotels and motels, despite representing only 1% of the population.
Tinder co-founder buys five-star El Encanto resort in Santa Barbara
The five-star El Encanto resort in Santa Barbara, a Hollywood getaway for more than a century where rooms cost north of $1,000 a night, has been sold to Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen for $82.2 million.
The Waldorf Astoria, a hotel that defined hospitality, is reborn
For nearly a century, New York City's Waldorf Astoria set the standard for luxury hotels. Now, after seven years, an army of artisans has brought the Art Deco beauty back to life. "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King interviews Hilton's Chris Nasetta and takes a tour, as a grand hotel begins a new chapter.
Why the Asset-Light Model Works
The asset-light model has become the dominant strategy for major hotel brands, allowing them to expand without the capital-intensive burden of real estate ownership. But what does this mean for hotel owners and investors?
World's first 3D-printed hotel takes shape in Texas
El Cosmico, a hotel and campground in Marfa, Texas, is expanding with the world’s first 3D-printed hotel, using cutting-edge technology from Austin-based ICON and Bjarke Ingels Group. The project includes 43 new hotel units and 18 residential homes, all built using ICON's massive Vulcan 3D printer, which extrudes a special cement-based material called Lavacrete. El Cosmico’s owner, Liz Lambert, highlights the creative freedom this process allows, enabling the construction of unique architectural elements like curves and domes, which would be costly with traditional methods. The technology also adapts to weather conditions, ensuring durability and scalability for the project.
This Is How Donald Trump Lost Millions On His D.C. Hotel—Years After He Sold It
In what seemed like a stroke of genius–or incredible luck–Donald Trump sold his money-losing D.C. hotel in 2022 and ended up with a handsome $127 million payday. But what few knew is that in order for that deal to happen, Trump had to step in with a loan. So when the lease’s new owner got into trouble financially, he took a hit too. Forbes staff writer Zach Everson joins "Forbes Talks" to discuss.
Former Nazi bunker turned into hotel and leisure complex in Germany
At 58 meters tall - just a little taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but with considerably more heft - the St. Pauli bunker in Hamburg, Germany, has dominated the city skyline for just over 80 years.
Retail, Hospitality And The Olympic Games: LVMH’s Real Estate Strategy
In June 2023, it was confirmed that luxury conglomerate LVMH would become a premium sponsor of the Paris Olympic Games of 2024, a status it paid nearly $160 million to obtain. While it may have come to a surprise to see the world’s leading luxury group become the commercial partner of a mainstream sports event, the move was a clear strategic one that has since led to more tactical spending in anticipation of the event in less than 100 days. In the past year, the group has boosted its real estate portfolio by acquiring buildings in prime locations in Paris, New York and other city centers to enhance its presence across retail and hospitality, which it has expanded ahead of the Olympics and will continue to do so afterwards.
Saudis Scale Back Ambition for $1.5 Trillion Desert Project Neom
Saudi Arabia has scaled back its medium-term ambitions for the desert development of Neom, the biggest project within Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plans for diversifying the oil-dependent economy, according to people familiar with the matter.
BloomBerg.com and NEOM
Hyatt’s CEO on the Strategy Behind Selling $2 Billion in Assets
Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian sits down for an extended interview to discuss the hotel company’s “asset-light” strategy and what this means for Hyatt’s future.
Why Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt Don’t Own Nearly 99% of Their Hotels
Two-thirds of U.S. hotels carry the name of a major brand. But companies like Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt don’t own or even run most of the properties. Here’s what’s behind that strategy and what it means for consumers.
Accor in talks with Dubai Holding to fund Orient Express superyachts
French hotel group Accor is in talks with investment vehicle Dubai Holding to fund the roughly €800mn development of two upmarket cruise liners under the Orient Express brand, in the latest example of Middle Eastern investor interest in the luxury travel sector, according to multiple people familiar with discussions.
Ultra luxury Aman hotel group expands into Saudi Arabia with a promise to celebrate the Kingdom’s diversity
Aman, a name whispered in the circles of the rich and famous, is one of the world’s most exclusive hotel groups, renowned for its near telepathic service and ultra-luxurious properties tucked in some of the globe’s most stunning locations.
The 41 Most Anticipated Hotel Openings of 2024 - vogue.com
In 2024, the post-pandemic travel boom is set to continue. After years of border closures, construction halts, and economic uncertainly, the world is finally bullish on, well, the world itself: according to the U.S. Travel Association, leisure trips will reach the 2 billion mark next year just in the United States alone, far surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, nearly all tourist regions in the world have fully recovered since the shutdown. People are no longer taking travel for granted. In fact, they’re making it a priority.
15 African Countries With The Highest Investments In The Hotel Business
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the 15 African countries with the highest investments in the hotel business with insights into signed deals in early 2023 from 45 regional (African) and international hotel chains. To see top 5 countries in this list click 5 African Countries With The Highest Investments In The Hotel Business.
The Peninsula vs Raffles: how London’s 2 new Asian-brand hotels square up – rooms, suites, restaurants, prices and more
To borrow from the popular British saying about buses, in this case you can wait years for an Asian grand dame hotel to come to London, and then two open in the same month.
Fit for an emperor: Bulgari Hotel Roma
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